Just another part of me ... detail from the Kadir Nelson cover painting for Michael Jackson's new album, Michael. Photograph: Ho/Reuters

A new Michael Jackson album is finally set for release, a year and a half on from the singer's death. The album will feature previously unheard tracks and is due to hit shops on 14 December.

Although many details remain unclear, Sony have announced that the album will be called Michael, with a trailer providing more information due to appear on michaeljackson.com today. There are also plans to stream Breaking News, a full song from the album, on Monday for one week. The song was originally recorded in 2007 but has only been recently completed.

Other tracks on Michael are thought to have been recorded at various studios in LA and Las Vegas, with Jackson believed to have been collaborating with artists such as Akon, Lady Gaga and RedOne at the time of his death. Hardcore Jackson fans will be relieved to note the cover art is suitably ludicrous – a Kadir Nelson oil painting depicting two naked cherubs placing a crown on Jackson's head, against a background mural featuring the singer at various stages in his career.

This is the first album of new Michael Jackson material to be released since the singer died in June 2009 on the eve of his 50-date This Is It residency at London's O2 arena. Last year, the track This Is It appeared online and was touted as Jackson's first posthumous release, only for it to emerge that it had first been recorded in 1983 as a duet between Jackson and the song's co-writer, Paul Anka. Anka threatened to sue Jackson's estate and was quickly assigned half the copyright.

Fans will be able to pre-order the album from michaeljackson.com within the next 24 hours.